December 11, (THEWILL) – As the world marks 76 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has decried the rising assault on free speech and peaceful assembly in Nigeria.
In a statement commemorating International Human Rights Day 2024, CAPPA underscored the theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” as a rallying cry for global action to uphold human rights as the cornerstone of democracy and societal progress.
The organisation noted that the right to free speech and peaceful assembly remains fundamental to democratic governance, allowing citizens to challenge power, amplify marginalized voices, and demand accountability.
However, CAPPA expressed deep concern over what it described as an escalating crackdown on these rights in Nigeria, which it says undermines the principles of freedom and justice.
It highlighted alarming incidents of repression, including arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and violent dispersals of peaceful protests.
The statement cited the August 2024 nationwide protests against the rising cost of living and poor governance, during which security agencies allegedly used excessive force, resulting in 24 deaths and the arrest of over 1,000 demonstrators.
“In November 2024, the detention of 29 minors aged 14 to 17 for participating in #EndBadGovernance protests further illustrated the growing trend of criminalizing dissent. These young activists were reportedly charged with treason, a move CAPPA described as “disproportionate and punitive.
“This pattern of shrinking civic space and the misuse of anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws to suppress free expression contradicts Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights commitments,” CAPPA stated.
It urged the Nigerian government to immediately end the persecution of activists, journalists, and protesters.
“The arbitrary arrests and detention of citizens exercising their rights must stop. Those currently in custody should be released unconditionally, and all charges against them dropped,” the statement added.
It emphasised that the ongoing assault on civic freedoms erodes not just individual rights but also the collective values necessary for a just and equitable society.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
